Political Science

Employers agree that the strongest candidates have both solid academic preparation and practical, on-the-job experience gleaned from internships.

Political Science students have many paths for securing internships and receiving academic credit.

Whether arranging your own placement or participating in an organized program, you'll gain valuable professional skills, expand your network, and explore potential career paths.

Any Semester

Students can earn credit while interning part-or full-time during the fall, spring, or summer semester.

Any Location

Students majoring or minoring in political science have gained valuable experience interning in settings around the country. Many of these students received Job-Ready Awards that provided funding for living expenses.

No Course Prerequisites

You need only be a Political Science student in good standing.

Indiana State Legislative Spring Internship Program

Each spring semester, the Indiana General Assembly awards 50-60 internships. These are competitively awarded and are distributed among the colleges and universities in Indiana. Generally, about 12 Purdue students are chosen. To be eligible, you must be at least a junior and have at least a 3.0 GPA. Approval for legislative internship credit is contingent upon the student securing a position in the Indiana General Assembly’s Intern Program run by the party caucuses in the House and Senate.

Purdue student interns explore career paths, network with professionals, apply classroom learning, expand their skills, and gain coveted real-life work experience. Follow the steps below to earn academic credit during your internship.

Ensure you are eligible and ask about opportunities. Make certain you understand how the credit will count toward your degree requirements. Advisors are knowledgeable about courses, study abroad and internship opportunities, and events. Make an appointment with your advisor here.

Cla Career services

Purdue Center for Careers and Opportunities

Cla job-ready Initiative Students whose internships are unpaid or low-paid can apply for financial support enabling them to cover basic costs incurred while interning. Learn more here.

Identify potential internship providers and learn about them to develop ideas for your internship. Your work may focus on a particular project, or you may do a variety of tasks. The only absolute requirement is that your internship must contain an academic component.

You will arrange your exact duties with your internship provider. Keep in mind that you are there to gain education through your field experience; you are not free labor for the organization. Although the exact number of hours and schedule will be arranged between you and your internship provider, you should expect to work 4-8 hours per week.

Consult the party websites for more information, deadlines, and how to apply:

Indiana Senate Republicans
Indiana House Republicans
Indiana House Democrats
Indiana Senate Democrats
Additional internships may be available with current Members of the U.S. House and Senate.

In order to register, students must receive approval from the Department before the internship begins.

First, complete the Political Science department's Internship Application.

And, the internship provider must also complete an Internship Contract concerning your duties and responsibilities. It is your responsibility to share the contract link with your internship provider, and to ensure they have completed the form. No course credit will be awarded for internships without prior approval of the employer contract.

Registering for degree credit for Indiana State Legislature internship

All Indiana State Legislature interns are expected to register for POL 40302ISL for 3 credits (regular grade) and also the on-site Sub-National Government course taught in Indianapolis by a rotating group of universities (POL59000ISL, 3 credits, regular grade).

Students who would like to earn Capstone credit should also enroll in POL49500ISL for 3 credits (regular grade).

Students also have the option of adding POL 40300ISL for up to 6 credits (pass/no pass) to allow for full-time enrollment, if needed.

Registering for degree credit for all other internships

Students have several options to suit their needs:

POL 40302 - Self-Initiated Internship (3 cr) Students who enroll in 40302 will submit regular journal entries and a 1,500-2,000-word statement at the end of their internship describing what they learned.

Or, students who want to earn Capstone credit can enroll in

POL 40302CA - Self-Initiated Internship Capstone (3 cr) Students who enroll in 40302A will complete a Capstone project at the end of their internship.

And, students with a full-time internship can also enroll in

POL 40300- Field Experiences in Political Science (1-9 cr) Taken concurrently with 40302 or 40302CA to allow students additional credit using the pass/no pass option.

Purdue Political Science Students Have Interned at Locations Around the Country

Campaign for Hoosier Families, Lafayette, IN

Church World Service’s Advocacy and Policy Group, Washington, D.C.

Cook County State’s Attorney, Chicago, IL

C-SPAN, Washington, D.C.

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo

Guggenheim Museum, New York City

Indianapolis Children’s Museum

Indiana General Assembly

Indiana State Department of Health

Indianapolis Office of the Mayor

Illinois State Board of Education

Kheprw Institute, Indianapolis, IN

Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, IL

National Public Radio, Washington, D.C.

Parkview Health Systems, Fort Wayne, IN

Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, Washington, D.C.

Republic of the Marshall Islands Permanent Mission to the United Nations, New York City

U.S. Congressman Susan Brooks of Indiana

U.S. Congressman Greg Stanton of Arizona

U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Walorski of Indiana

U.S. Congressman Peter Visclosky of Indiana

U.S. Federal Reserve Board, Washington, D.C.

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Washington, D.C.

USS Monitor Center at the Mariners’ Museum and Park, Virginia

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois

U.S. Senator Todd Young of Indiana

WISH-TV, Indianapolis, IN

Internships